GRE写作中的 “太极”与“分裂”

关键字 gre考试 gre考试技巧 gre高分技巧 gre作文

2018-11-02 来源：互联网作者：阅读量：人喜欢手机阅读

导读

GRE写作为分析性写作，官方OG中给出的定义为：

The Analytical Writing measure tests your critical thinking and analytical writing skills.

It assesses your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, construct and evaluate arguments, and sustain a focused and coherent discussion. It does not assess specific content knowledge.

简言之，GRE写作考察构建论证与评价论证的能力。写作部分有两项考察形式：Issue与Argument，刚好与之对应。Issue需要考生思考题目所给话题观点的复杂性，并通过论证来支持自己的观点。不同于Issue，Argument需要考生对已有的论证进行评价，看其是否合乎逻辑。因此，Issue更侧重于构建自己的论证，而Argument则是评价他人的论证。这两项任务绝非二元对立，而是互补相生，恰如“太极”，而成文的过程，则需“分列”。

“太极”蕴含于何处?

Issue 有六种题目指令

指令1：

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

指令2：

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the recommendation and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, describe specific circumstances in which adopting the recommendation would or would not be advantageous and explain how these examples shape your position.

指令3：

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons or examples that could be used to challenge your position.

指令4：

Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented above.

指令5：

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim AND the reason on which that claim is based.

指令6：

Write a response in which you discuss your views on the policy above and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider the possible consequences of implementing the policy and explain how these consequences shape your position.

这六种题目指令侧重各有不同，但相通之处为：要求考生考虑到不同角度，不同情况，不同条件，抑或是不同的结果，不同的立场。在观点立场上不是一刀切式的支持或反对，而是调和性的占比，即对一个话题的观点可以是完全同意/反对，部分同意/反对, 观点是内容正负占比的外在呈现。

Argument题目指令有八种

1.Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

2.Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions, and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.

3.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the recommendation and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.

4.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the advice and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the advice.

5.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the recommendation is likely to have the predicted result. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.

6.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.

7.Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be addressed in order to decide whether the conclusion and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to the questions would help to evaluate the conclusion.

8.Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.

这8种题目指令，实则可以归为4大类(evidence类、assumption类、question类、explanation类)。但不论是哪一类，实则都包含了加强或削弱已有论证。论证的加强与否取决于：论据evidence的有无，假设assumption得以证实与否，所提问题答案的肯定与否，其它解释存在与否。因此，Argument并非一边倒式的批评，而是公平客观的正负评价，加强削弱皆可。

由此可见，Issue与Argument的题目指令要求蕴含着太极思想。万事、万物都有两面，并且不断的变化，也有一定的关联，有无相生，利弊并存，而非泾渭分明的二元对立。

“分列”体现于何处?

面对蕴含太极思想的GRE写作，该如何应对呢?x新通gre教师建议，在成文作答时，运用“分列”。

Issue部分，在构建自己的论证时，为了体现逻辑思考的严密，就要考虑到不同的情况、角度或结果。因此，拆分是常用的方式。例如按照领域分、按照时间分、按照国家发展程度分等。

在评价Argument时，通常会选择驳斥，即认为已有论证不够严密，不够合乎逻辑，实现的途径为：罗列在论证中忽略的情况和可能性。例如，对于比较类错误，可以基于相同，罗列不同;对于因果类错误，可以基于已给原因，罗列其它可能原因;利弊类错误，基于所给利处/弊端，罗列潜在弊端/利处。

因此，通过拆分的方式，分析不同情况下，在Issue部分，排除他人的槽点，让他人无槽可吐，尽力全方位地守住自己立场。在Argument部分，通过罗列，例举出别人论证过程中忽视的情况，“找题目的茬”，有效地攻破题目所给论证。

例题讲解

以几道具体的题目为例来进一步说明。(任何题目思路皆不唯一，本文所给的思路只是破题的切入点，仅供参考)

Issue 2

To understand the most important characteristics of a society, one must study its major cities.

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

本题的一个切入点为a society，题目只是宽泛地给出“一个国家”，而并未明确界定。那么可以从国家切入，进行拆分。如按照国家面积来分，对于地大物博的国家如中国、美国来讲，地域差异大，只凭几个主要城市无异于以偏概全，不能了解国家重要的特点;但对于国土较小，比较集中的国家如新加坡，甚至是“城中国”的梵蒂冈来说，了解主要城市基本能抓到国家的重要特点。或者从国家发展程度进行拆分，经济发达的国家的主要城市多趋于国际化，比较趋同，国家的重要特征可能更多的保留于小城镇;经济不太发达的国家，在一定程度上，受到外界的影响较少，大城市与小城镇的差异不会迥异，所以了解主要城市不失为一种有效的方式。

Issue 45

Competition for high grades seriously limits the quality of learning at all levels of education.

本题的一个分析切入点为all levels，即题目比较绝对地认为“为高分竞争”对所有阶段都是有弊的。那么就可以拆分不同的教育阶段，如启蒙小学阶段、初高中阶段、高等教育阶段，然后讨论“追求高分”对不同阶段教育质量的利弊。例如，启蒙小学阶段更侧重激发学生对学习的热情与兴趣，鼓励追求高分可能会挫败学生的积极性，对教育质量有一定的负面作用;初高中教育旨在让学生积累知识，培养能力，适当的竞争能够激发学生的斗志，在竞争中取长补短，对教育质量有好处，然而过度竞争也会让教育偏离了正规，趋于应试教育等。

Issue 149

In any field—business, politics, education, government—those in power should be required to step down after five years.

Discuss your views on the policy and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider the possible consequences of implementing the policy and explain how these consequences shape your position.

本题的一个切入点可以是any field，题目认为任何一个领域都应该每五年进行一次权力更迭。那么，可以分不同的领域来讨论，而非一概而论。例如，在政治领域，这种方式可以避免专政和垄断的发生，给政治注入新的活力，也可以鼓励更多潜在的政治家。但是对于教育经济等领域来说，更需要领导者的经验，5年一换领导人可能会阻碍其正常发展。而且有可能会导致这些领导者更多地考虑短期问题，只顾及眼前利益而忽略长期利益。

Argument25

The following was written as a part of an application for a small-business loan by a group of developers in the city of Monroe.

"A jazz music club in Monroe would be a tremendously profitable enterprise. Currently, the nearest jazz club is 65 miles away; thus, the proposed new jazz club in Monroe, the C-Note, would have the local market all to itself. Plus, jazz is extremely popular in Monroe: over 100,000 people attended Monroe's annual jazz festival last summer; several well-known jazz musicians live in Monroe; and the highest-rated radio program in Monroe is 'Jazz Nightly,' which airs every weeknight at 7 P.M. Finally, a nationwide study indicates that the typical jazz fan spends close to $1,000 per year on jazz entertainment."

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

作者结论：

在M城修建爵士乐俱乐部是非常有利可图的。

前提1：人们都愿意来新建的爵士俱乐部C-Note

加强：存在证据表明当地人特别喜欢爵士乐并且愿意在当地消费。

削弱：(罗列可能性)最近的爵士音乐俱乐部在65英里之外与人们会不会来C-Note可能没有关系。很有可能人们更愿意去65英里以外的俱乐部，虽然距离较远，但有可能俱乐部的环境、音乐效果更能满足M城人们的需求。

前提2：去年夏天10万多人参加了M城的爵士音乐节，这意味着爵士乐在本地很受欢迎。

加强：有证据证明这10万多人大多数都是本地人，且欣赏爵士音乐是他们出席音乐节的唯一原因。

削弱：(罗列可能性--罗列他因)很有可能这10万多人大多数都是外地人。很多人之所以去参加音乐节，有可能是其它原因，比如是这个音乐节是免费的，这个音乐节邀请的主持人很有人气等。

前提3：许多知名的爵士音乐家居住在M城，这意味着爵士乐在本地很受欢迎。

加强：有证据证明爵士音乐家住在M城仅仅是因为当地人喜欢爵士音乐。

削弱：(罗列可能性--罗列他因)这些爵士音乐家住在这里可能是因为他们的家乡就在这，还有可能是因为这里环境优美，气候宜人;或者是因为这个地方的人无人喜欢爵士音乐，这些爵士音乐家刚好可以免于粉丝的打扰等。

前提4：M城最获好评的广播节目是周内每天晚7点播出的“Jazz Nightly”，这意味着该地区爵士乐很流行。

加强：有证据表明人们是主动收听这档节目，且与C-Note的风格相似。

削弱：(罗列可能性--罗列他因)很有可能人们在7点同时段没有其它更好的选择，会打开听，并不见得认真感兴趣地收听;或者是由于这个时间段恰逢下班，大多数人会打开广播收听;还有可能”Jazz Nightly”和C-Note的风格迥然。

前提5：全国性调查的结果是有效对全国都适用的。

加强：有证据证明该全国调查具有代表性的。

削弱：(罗列可能性--罗列差异)首先全国性的调查结果不一定适应于M城，很可能M城的情况与全国其他的地区的情况是不同的，当地人不会每年1000美金在爵士乐上。

前提6：1000美金全部都花在去爵士俱乐部上。

加强：有证据表明1000美金不会有他用，全部花销在去爵士俱乐部上。

削弱：(罗列可能性--罗列他用)人们投入在爵士乐的开销有可能是花在了购买爵士乐唱片，去观看爵士乐现场表演，去学习如何演奏爵士乐等。

Argument 126

The following is a recommendation from the personnel director to the president of Acme Publishing Company.

"Many other companies have recently stated that having their employees take the Easy Read Speed- Reading Course has greatly improved productivity. One graduate of the course was able to read a 500-page report in only two hours; another graduate rose from an assistant manager to vice president of the company in under a year. Obviously, the faster you can read, the more information you can absorb in a single workday. Moreover, Easy Read would cost Acme only $500 per employee—a small price to pay when you consider the benefits. Included in this fee is a three-week seminar in Spruce City and a lifelong subscription to the Easy Read newsletter. Clearly, Acme would benefit greatly by requiring all of our employees to take the Easy Read course."

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

作者结论：

Acme公司应该要求所有员工参加Easy Read的课程.

前提1：其他公司员工和Acme公司员工的工作需求及能力是一样的。

加强：有证据表明，其他公司员工参加课程培训的效果和Acme公司的员工是一样的。

削弱：(罗列可能性--罗列不同)有可能其他公司员工的阅读能力比较欠缺，而Acme公司本来就是出版公司，员工整体阅读能力较强，所以培训对他们而言意义不大。

前提2：两个小时之内读完长达500页的报告意味着吸收的信息多。

加强：有证据显示，两个小时之内读完长达五百页的报告意味着吸收的信息多。

削弱：(罗列可能性)很有可能只是读完，但是没有完全理解和吸收，速度不一定等同于效率，数量不一定等同于质量。

前提3：两个个体的成功(一人两小时内读完长达500页的报告，另一个人一年内从助理经理升到了副总裁)都是归因于上了Easy Read该课程。

加强：有证据显示，两个个体的成功别无他因，有且只是因为上了速读课程。

削弱：(罗列可能性--罗列他因)很有可能第一个人读得快是因为报告本身较为容易，包含大量图片，文字信息较少，或者是因为该学生本来阅读速度就很快，或者阅读速度提升是由于上了其它课程;第二个人成功晋升可能是因为其之前对公司的贡献，或者是由于他本身出众的领导力和工作能力等。

前提4：这两个毕业生的成功代表了所有参加Easy Read课程学生的水平。